Lights out at Parliament House for Earth Hour conservation campaign

The Parliament House as well as the Prime Minister’s Office among other key buildings in Pakistan and around the world plunged into darkness for an hour Saturday as part of a global campaign to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on the planet's vanishing biodiversity.

According to a statement, all non-essential lights of the PM Office were switched off symbolically except those required to ensure security of the building.

In this connection, a ceremony was also held at the Parliament building.



“We have to pledge to save energy and make our country clean and green,” Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, the chief guest on the occasion, was quoted as saying.

The 13th edition of Earth Hour, organised by the green group WWF, will see millions of people across 180 countries turn off their lights at 8:30pm local time to highlight energy use and the need for conservation.

#Pakistan is a #water stressed country. Taking action on #climate action is not an option but a necessity. #EarthHourPk #Connect2Earth #SavingNature #togetherpossible pic.twitter.com/NCMbrNHr8m

— WWF-Pakistan (@WWFPak) March 30, 2019

"We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world.  And we could be the last that can do anything about it,” the charity said. "We have the solutions, we just need our voices to be heard."

Lights don’t usually go off in urban city Singapore but it did for #EarthHour to show how much #NatureMatters 🌃 #Connect2Earth and switch off for nature wherever you are!! pic.twitter.com/5k4OxeH9i7

— Earth Hour Official (@earthhour) March 30, 2019

The event comes after some of the direst warnings yet on the state of Earth's natural habitat and species.

WWF's own "Living Planet" report in October said that 60 per cent of all animals with a backbone -- fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- had been wiped out by human activity since 1970.

Last year, Earth Hour was observed in more than 7,000 towns and cities in 187 countries, according to the organisers.